Business NSW – ABLA CEO
Nigel Ward is one of Australia’s leading advocates and practitioners in employee and industrial relations with more than 30 years of strategic business planning experience.
As CEO of ABLA, Nigel has spearheaded the organisation’s award-winning company culture. He sets the tone in the office with an open management style and sincere approach to looking after each and every client. Nigel approaches all legal issues from a ‘what’s best for your business’ perspective.
Under his leadership, the landmark Penalty Rates decision handed down by Fair Work in February 2017 was a milestone victory for ABLA, acting on behalf of the Australian Chamber, NSW Business Chamber and Australian Business Industrial. Nigel said: “A decision of this magnitude and notoriety will have far-reaching consequences for the industrial relations system and the economy and it is very exciting for ABLA to have played such a big part.”
In his capacity as the leading employer industrial advocate, Nigel appears regularly before the Fair Work Commission in major industry cases for the peak employer association, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other major employer organisations.
As one of Australia’s leading enterprise bargaining advocates and practitioners, Nigel has been at the forefront of modern negotiations since the late 1980s. This in-depth experience has given him a holistic understanding of workplace strategy, bargaining tactics and law.